My Research Summary

I use the zebrafish to study the development and function of the nervous system. My research focuses on two areas: (1) somatosensory neurons that detect thermal, chemical, mechanical, and painful stimuli, and (2) the molecular basis of arousal and anxiety-like behaviors. If you are interested in working in my lab, please see a more complete description of my work on the research page.

Potential Research Projects: All of these assume at least 10-20 hr / week in lab.

Short term (1 semester)

• Clone a gene expressed in somatosensory neurons. Carefully document the spatial and temporal characteristics of its expression. Overexpress the gene product via mRNA injection to assess its effects on somatosensory development.

Medium term (1 - 1.5 year)

• Make transgenic line that inducibly overexpresses a gene. Analyze the effect of overexpression on development or behavior, especially with regard to somatosensation.

• Make a transgenic line that expresses a reporter gene (eg GFP) in a specific neuronal cell type. Via live imaging of transgenic animals, examine the dynamics of this cell type as it develops and connects with the rest of the nervous system.

• Carefully analyze the phenotype of a mutation in a gene expressed in somatosensory neurons.

Long term (2-3.5 years) ie. get into the lab early - Freshman or Sophomore year, and often.

Other Involvement:

Ithaca College offers a Neuroscience minor for those students interested in an interdisciplinary study of the nervous system. The minor includes courses from several departments, including Biology, Psychology, and Exercise Science. The minor includes both classwork and a research/practicum experience.